“Hey,” he says.
My eyes travel up the white button-down shirt, open at the top, to the hardened jawline and bright blue eyes.
“What?” I breathe out, wishing it sounded angrier and less horny.
“Where are you running off to?”
“Break.”
He licks his lips, still holding my hand. “Dance with me?”
I suck in a breath, shaking my head. “I’m at work.”
“Just one song.”
29
DUKE
Ileft Jensen parked outside of Matt’s house so I could check in on Dallas while she was at work. I’m having trouble staying away from her. But if I have to watch her get hit on one more time, I might talk myself into leaving.
I can’t focus on anything except her while I’m dancing. I’m half-heartedly practicing for the spring showdown, which seems to matter less and less the closer it gets.
I’m switching up partners, debating who I should ask to compete with me if I still can’t convince Dallas.
I have to build up the courage to ask her first.
Instead of going to her bar to get a drink, I stay on the far side, near the corner, where I can observe her. She’s chatting with patrons easily, but I can see, even from here, that she’s barely holding it together.
And a few nights ago, when I helped her with the boys while they were sick, she was acting odd. Looking at me like she wasn’t sure if she could trust me. And I didn’t like it—at all.
She doesn’t know I’m having Matt watched. I thought about telling her, but I wasn’t sure how to phrase it.
Hey, your baby daddy is a prick, and I think we should keep tabs on him. If he does anything crazy, we can put a bullet in his head and bury him on the side of the road. You cool with that?
I tap on my phone to text Jensen.
Duke
Update?
Jensen
No change.
I pocket the phone and ask another random girl to dance. It’s a swing dance, so I’m spinning her around when I notice Dallas watching from outside her bar.
I catch a glance of the look on her face and immediately push away from Madi, my dance partner.
“Hey!” she calls out.
I ignore her, chasing after Dallas. She gets through the hallway and almost to the back door before I catch up to her. I grab her hand, pulling her back to me. She thuds into my chest.
“Hey.”
She peers up at me with her sad, tear-filled eyes.
“What?”